Imax to Screen 'Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon' in China

The giant screen exhibitor will digitally remaster and release Tsui Hark's follow-up to "Detective Dee: Mystery of the Phantom Flame" on Sept. 28.

TORONTO – Underlining it's not all Hollywood for Imax in China, the giant screen exhibitor is to screen Tsui Hark's Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon in the expanding Asian market when it opens wide in the country on Sept. 28.

Imax has pacted with China Film Co-Production Corp. and Huayi Brothers Media to digitally remaster Hark's follow-up to his 2010 action thriller Detective Dee: Mystery of the Phantom Flame.

Hark's prequel was nominated for a Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and features Mark Chao playing the titular Detective Dee role originally made famous by Andy Lau.

"This will allow audiences to experience the greatness of the flourishing Tang Dynasty, the prosperous city of Luoyang, the millions of navy vessels, and the ingenious giant monster in the most immersive way possible," director Hark said in a statement Monday.

In 2011, Imax partnered with the Bona Film Group to make Hark's Flying Swords of Dragon Gate and released the 3D martial arts film in China and select U.S. theaters.